Ukraine is not
allowing Indian students stranded in the country to leave, Russian President Vladimir
Putin told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday after ceasefire was
declared in four cities – Sumi, Kyiv, Kharkiv and Maruipol. Putin further told
Modi that the Indian government should speak to Ukraine President Volodymyr
Zelensky for the quick and safe evacuation of Indian students. There are nearly
700 Indian students stranded in Sumi.  

In course of a conversation,
Putin informed Modi of the ceasefire Russia had declared in four cities but
added that Ukraine “nationalists, using force and different kinds of
provocations, continue to prevent the evacuation of civilians, including
foreign citizens from battle zones.”

Ukraine, on the
other hand, has rebuffed Russia’s ceasefire declaration. This is because, Kyiv wants
civilians to be taken to a safe zone in Ukraine and not to Russian territory.
When Modi spoke to Zelensky, the Indian PM expressed deep concern about the
ongoing conflict and the resultant humanitarian crisis.

He said India has
always stood for peaceful resolution of issues and direct dialogue between two
parties. India is an age-old ally of Russia and the Indian establishment has
had to walk a diplomatic tightrope in course of the Ukraine war because it
seeks to maintain good relations with Russia and the United States.

The Russian
president pointed out that Indian students held by Kharkiv were able to leave
the city only after strong international pressure on Kyiv authorities. “Russian
military personnel making every effort to ensure the evacuation of Indian
citizens from Sumy,” a Russian readout said.

India is required to
decide two routes to evacuate Indian students in Sumy and ensure that it
remains free of violence. Indian students may either be taken to Belgorod in
Russia and also to Poltova. Russia has set up humanitarian corridors to allow
civilians to leave battlegrounds. Ukraine, however, has described the
humanitarian corridors proposed by Russia as propaganda corridors because the
routes suggested by Moscow lead to Belarus and Russia.